TX-RC360 / TX-NR609 DD2.0 decoding issue - audio cutting in and out

I am using ATT UVERSE with HD package.
The issue I have is audio drop-out/stuttering on the HD channels but I have narrowed it down to DD2.1/2.0 (dolby Digital 2.0) feed.
DD2.0 is mainly in use on Spike, TNT, USA, CNN, some NBC,FX, Speed, USA. Even if I change modes to Dolby PL or Neo6, the issue is still there which tells me it is a decode issue and not a post processing issue.
NOTE: The receiver does not have issues when decoding DD5.1 stream. This happens on HDMI and Optical interfaces.

This issue only started when I got this Receiver mainly for HDMI upscaling capability and streaming networked audio(that's another issue).

FYI, before you start blaming the Uverse service, My older HK320 which only had optical audio and component video does not have an issue with DD2.1/2.0

It is not just the DVR since I moved my DVR to another TV room and put plain decoder box in my main room. This did not make any difference.

My 2 cents: There must be a bug or timing data/packet info for DD2.0 code that may have been removed while your or TI engineers added all these memory hogging Dolby HD and DTS master formats.

Please help because this is driving me crazy and I have already had to send my receiver in twice with no luck. They replacing HDMI board twice.

Hi tbobtx,

Which receiver do you have?

OnkyoUSA wrote:Hi tbobtx,

Which receiver do you have?

I have the TX-RC360

I have the TX-RC360 but I also tried out TX-,NR609 with same results

Hi tbobtx,

Have you tried a reset of the receiver yet? To do the reset you need to turn the receiver on, then on the front panel of the receiver press and hold the "VCR/DVR" button while doing that press the "STANDBY/ON" button. You will see the word "Clear" in the display screen and the receiver will go into standby mode. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL LOSE ALL YOUR AUDIO & VIDEO ASSIGNMENTS ON THE RECEIVER PLUS YOU WILL LOSE ALL YOUR SPEAKER CONFIGURATIONS, SPEAKER DISTANCE AND ALL LEVEL CALIBRATION SETTINGS. YOU WILL ALSO LOSE ANY PROGRAMMED RADIO STATIONS IN MEMORY. Once the receiver goes into standby mode turn it back on and go thru the setup menu for all custom settings.

Yes I have done this twice just for good measure. No change in this issue. It also has latest firmware as of a few months ago.

Hi tbobtx,

I have sent this to our engineering department for resolution. I hope to have an answer sometime early next week. Thank you for your patience.

Hello onkyo support.

Just checking on wheather the engineers have figured this out yet.

Thx

Hi tbobtx,

I have not heard back from them as of yet but will send them another email. Thank you for your patience.

I actually have this exact same problem. I just got the HT-S7409 a few days ago and I have noticed that the UVERSE HD channels are dropping audio pretty frequently. I hope you can find a solution, as it is quite frustrating when you are watching a movie. I've also had this problem while watching movies on Netflix through my Xbox 360.

Any chance this could be the same issue I've been having with my TX-NR609 and U-Verse? The audio drop outs appear to be repeatable and don't occur with my Denon receiver or with my Samsung TV. The service tech indicated that he's seen other U-Verse customers with what appears to be the same problem. Perhaps this is a firmware bug?

Here's a link to my thread:
https://onkyoproductsupport.forumotion.com/t295p15-nr609-problems-questions

Possibly. The easiest test is to ensure you have your settings under listening mode preset for the uverse input(I assume cbl/sat) is set to direct for DD/DD plus/treuHD.

Make sure you are in HD channels (1000 and up) otherwise all shows are transmitted in stereo only.

On the green led readout on the receiver, it will show which speakers are active for that specific channel(little green boxes).
So for espn, fox, CBS, CNN it should show 6 speakers active and no dropouts unless you catch the channel during a commercial which may be in 2.0, so just keep eye on speaker readout.
Now change to a channel airing shows recorded or transmitted in DD2.0 like comedy channel, tvland, spike, some USA shows.

If you start hearing the drop-out/stuttering/audio stuttering then you have the same issue.

Note, I tried it through dvr and stand-alone stb with same results through hdmi and optical, so not just hdmi issue. I really think it is a decoding issue with onkyo but I will wait for the experts from onkyo to chime in once they have reviewed this.

That's exactly what's happening with mine. If I hit 'Display' to see the audio format just before a series of dropouts (as I said, they're repeatable), I see the display momentarily change to 'Unknown' at each occurrence. I don't mean to sound repetitive, but my Denon receiver plays these segments just fine, so it's not the data that's at fault. If I switch the STB's digital audio from 'Surround' to 'Stereo', the problem goes away, but then, so does any surround information - totally unacceptable.

Reading through this forum, I see many, many reports of problems that sound awfully similar. And not just with the 609, though that one seems to be one of the more common offenders (of course, it could be that I'm noticing it more simply because that's what I have).

Onkyo: if you're listening, this sounds like a very serious issue. Certainly, you have enough information just in this thread, to dramatically narrow your search for a cause. This receiver is virtually useless for listening to some of the audio formats that are now in common use - formats that your competition handles with ease. Not to get ugly, but this is in violation of the implied warranty of merchantability in the US and in other countries, and it entitles us to some remedy. Unless the product was sold 'As-Is', it must be able to do what it says it will do on the box, including, in this case, properly decoding a standard implementation of each of the formats listed. When can we expect this issue to be addressed? If necessary, I'm willing to help you isolate this problem. Does this receiver have a service mode that I can access to generate some diagnostics?

Hi mikehartigan,

Unfortunately I still have not heard back from our engineering department yet on this. Thank you for your patience.

I've got the same exact problem. Reset, cable change, cable routing, firmware update, etc all yield the same result...audio drop outs. My previous receiver, Denon, did not have this problem. Wife is going crazy...please help resolve this problem ASAP.

Receiver model = TX-NR609

Hi forum users,

Is it possible to inquire as to what model number Uverse boxes you have and if possible what is the firmware version of the Uverse boxes.

Motorola VIP1225
Version 2.1.2295.10
OS WinCE/5.0.1400
Bootstrap 1.1027
UI 5.4.4

I have the following STB
Motorola VIP1200
WinCE 5.0.1400
Firmware: 2.1.2295.10

I have also tried it on my VIP1216 DVR
same firmware.

Just a reminder, my HKAVR320 and HK AVR45B do not have this issue on any of these uverse units.

Hi forums users,

Thank you for the information you've provided.

I have the same issue with my TX-NR609
When bitstreaming AC3 stereo I get audio drops and sound pops.
This is not an issue with AC3 5.1 or any other format.
For me it is not with a Uverse box but with my HTPC. I tried another mediaplayer and another HDMI cable so I know the issue is my TX-NR609
I have the latest firware and tried a factory reset etc etc
It is not an issue when I let the player decode the AC3 stereo so this comfirms it is the receiver...

Any news?

Thanks

Hi cyradix,

I have not heard anything back from our engineering department on this. I will send them a reminder to see what the status is. And thank you for this other information.

Hi forum users,

Have any of you tried an updated model U-verse box like VIP 2250?

It is not available in my area but that is a DVR. I am not using the DVR in my setup, so that would not make difference to me. Please do not make like this is a uverse issue. It is only apparent to uverse customers since some content on certain channels and all content on others are transmitted in DD2.0 / AC3 stereo.

As one post showed, they are not using uverse but streaming music encoded in DD2.0 and that is too having issues. The issue goes away if they use decoder on DVD player and stream it through onkyo.

Time Warner cable and others either sends HD signal in DD5.1 or decoded dolby simulated surround. That's why they don't have this issue.

To sum it up, your engineers/firmware guys need to look at the code. Something in the AC3 stereo / DD2.0 code is missing or corrupt.

Please fix this ASAP since I am forced to watch Standard def channels way too much.

Hi tbobtx,

I have sent this to the proper department. Please be patient and as soon as we have an answer I will post it. Thank you.

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner (I don't always get email notifications when a reply is posted). I've tried swapping the U-Verse box and have the same problem on both:

Cisco IPN330HD
WinCE 5.0.1400
Firmware: 2.1.2295.10

Cisco ISB7005
WinCE 5.0.1400
Firmware: 2.1.2295.10